Description
Of all the classic British post-war roadsters produced, no other car is quite as unique or charming as the Morgan Plus 4. With a simple and strong drive train, agile handling and a truly visceral, sporting drive quality, sitting behind the wheel of a well-sorted Morgan is ceaselessly grin-inducing. Timeless and distinctive styling never fails to garner appreciation, part of the reason these iconoclastic cars are perennial favorites at shows and touring events. Produced between 1950 and 1969, the Plus 4 was a larger, quicker version of the company’s popular 4/4 model. The early 1960s models are really the most representative of the breed and better to drive with the significant benefit of the Triumph sourced inline four-cylinder engine. This example is fitted with the desirable TR4 motor and Moss 4-speed gearbox and it is an absolute thrill. The car starts easily, idles consistently and pulls strongly and smoothly through each of the gears. After a long crusie down to Malibu (part of which was in significant traffic), I’m happy to report that the car shows no indications of overheating, somewhat uncommon for Plus 4s. The transmission is crisp and smooth, the suspension is stiff and the car drives and brakes straight. The best way to describe the car would be that it’s completely tight, needing nothing to be enjoyed.
A Southern California engineer purchased this Plus 4 Roadster new and kept it for 37 years, at first using it as a daily driver and then as a secondary, weekend car. The car accrued nearly all of its 93,000 original miles under his stewardship and was in very solid original condition when the second owner heard about and acquired the car in 2000. A serious Morgan enthusiast, he used it in a similar capacity for the ensuing three years, putting less than five hundred miles on the car on short weekend jaunts. At that point he began a sympathetic restoration which included replacing all of the wood, stripping and repainting the car in its original black, detailing the undercarriage, refinishing all of the brightwork and reupholstering the interior in the correct materials. Having owned many Morgans, the second owner ensured that all of the work performed was completely correct, all the way down to the right nuts and bolts.
The results of his efforts is an example that presents beautifully. The rare, correct black paint is in excellent condition, marred only by the most minor of imperfections, none of which appear in any of the pictures. All of the brightwork is flawless, all of the glass and rubber is excellent and the original wheels are in great shape, wrapped in tires with plenty of remaining tread. The undercarriage is clean and rust-free and all of the ash wood is perfect. The leather seats show only the most minimal wear, the carpets are excellent and the dash wood has been nicely refinished. The car comes with its original soft top, a brand new soft top, a boot cover and its original side curtains. Everything works as it should, including all of the gauges and the car’s rare optional upgraded Lucas headlamps and bumper mounted running light.
If you’ve been looking for a correct, honest and beautifully presented Morgan Plus 4, this car deserves your serious attention. It has all the right things going for it: fantastic, correct original color combination, strong original mechanicals, excellent Southern California provenance and in wonderful cosmetic condition. It’s arguably the best example on the market and is sure to bring its next owner years of continued pleasure.
